A new controversy surrounds Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation as pro-Palestinian organizations in Cyprus urge CyBC to act for Israel’s removal from the contest.
Eurovision 2026 in Vienna is fast approaching, but the controversies surrounding the contest show no signs of slowing down. In a letter sent on April 3, several civil society organizations in Cyprus, including BDS Cyprus and others, called for a reassessment of Israel’s participation in the competition. According to them, the same standard applied to Russia in 2022 should be enforced, whereby a country’s participation may be disqualified if it “damages the reputation of the contest in light of an unprecedented crisis.” The organizations also requested that the Cypriot national broadcaster CyBC contact the official bodies responsible for the contest on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to reconsider Israel’s eligibility to participate in the upcoming competition.
Between Political Pressure and Broadcast Reality
Despite the appeal, no official decision has been made so far by the Cypriot broadcaster. CyBC has not responded to the request and continues its preparations for Eurovision 2026 as usual, including promoting its representative Antigoni and the song “Jalla” (in English: “More”). This situation highlights the gap between public pressure and the actual conduct of broadcasters, which tend to prioritize stability, continuity, and a separation between political considerations and broadcasting institutions.
Eurovision Under Pressure – But Israel Remains
The current attempt joins a series of similar efforts in recent years aimed at pressuring the EBU to prevent Israel’s participation in Eurovision. As previously reported, last December, following a committee decision by the EBU to allow Israel’s participation, five countries withdrew from Eurovision 2026 in protest: Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland. This unusual move underscored the extent to which the issue has become a central point of tension surrounding the contest.
From an Israeli perspective, this represents another attempt to exert political pressure on the competition, one that has so far failed to influence the EBU’s stance. The union has previously clarified that a distinction exists between public broadcasters and governments, and that the contest’s non-political nature must be preserved. Once again, despite calls for exclusion, there is no change in Israel’s status in the competition, and preparations for Eurovision in Vienna continue as planned. For Israel, the message remains clear: attempts to remove it from Eurovision persist, but for now, the European stage remains open. As Eurovision 2026 approaches, it appears that the debate surrounding Israel will not fade, rather, it is likely to become one of the central issues of the season.
Antigoni – Who Are You?
Antigoni Buxton, a British-Cypriot artist, originally from Cyprus, has often voiced her wish to represent her home country at Eurovision.
She began writing songs as a teenager and studied at London’s BRIT School, which has produced artists such as Adele and Amy Winehouse. In her early twenties, she signed with Island Records and began developing her unique sound – a mix of pop and R&B infused with Mediterranean influences and Greek instruments.
Her music often features bilingual lyrics in Greek and English, reflecting her dual British and Cypriot identity.
Antigoni became widely recognized after participating in the eighth season of the British reality show Love Island in 2022, which boosted her visibility across both the UK and Cyprus. Despite her television fame, she continues to focus primarily on her musical career.
Cyprus in Eurovision 2026
“JALLA” is the title of the song to be performed by Antigoni, which will represent Cyprus in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. The song was written and composed by Antigoni Buxton, Connor Mullally-Knight, Trey Qua, Claydee Lupa and Paris Kalpos. This is the first Eurovision entry by all songwriters.
The song’s title translates to “More,” and Antigoni uses it as a declaration of abundance and energy, aiming to bring an authentic Cypriot essence to the international center stage. For her, the song is a precise fusion of modern pop and Mediterranean roots, designed to showcase Cyprus’s uniqueness, bursting joy, and cultural pride to the world.
Currently, Cyprus ranks 11th in the Eurovision betting charts.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
